Replacing parts on an old road bike

[citybabe]

I have in my shed an old Falcon Peloton road bike which I think I bought about 8 years ago. It has 7 speed downshifter gearing. I want to start replacing parts such as the chainset and and the cassette. Can anybody give me some ideas of what I can replace them with please. I've added some photos to show what is on the bike at the moment



The pedals have corroded onto the chainset so I would like a new one. Would I need to get another 7 speed one? and would I just replace the cassette like for like with another?

 

[e-rider]

Hi, this is a low quality bike so I wouldn't start throwing money at it. Replace whatever REALLY needs replacing so that you can ride it and save the rest of the money and put it towards a new bike in the future.

The 7 speed cassette will need replacing with one the same. Some shops are selling these old 7 speed 'cassettes' (are you sure it's not a freewheel?) off for £5 a time whereas other places are still charging £15-20 so shop about.

 

[MikeMc]

This bike looks as though very little is worn - the chain is clean, the freewheel and chainset teeth look fine, no grime on the rear derailleur jockey wheels. The front derailleur does look a little strange. The curve of its cage is supposed to match the radius of the chainset.

I'd agree with tundragumski and, if it's been sat in the shed, add that a little bit of oil on all the pivots would probably would help.

 

[Zoiders]

As the others have said your drive train seems fine it just need a clean.

Your rear wheel is not a cassette wheel it in fact uses a 7 speed screw on freewheel, which is still available and in production and any LBS can order one in for you, same goes if it were a cassette.

If everything runs and the BB and hubs still run smoothly then run it all as is until it wears out.

The only thing you need to replace are the cables as they tend to be galvanised and not stainless on cheaper bikes, they have a habit of snapping as they perish quite easily.

I would check the BB as the grease will have dried out after 7 years stationary, a cheap fix is put some WD40 down the seat tube through the bottle cage hole to thin the grease back out again if you don't have the tools to pull the chain set and BB at home, you can even drill a small hole in the BB shell and just pump new grease in if you need to. Run the BB till it fails and have it replaced with a cartridge BB when the time comes.

The head set again mayhave dried grease in it, being a very basic quill head set it agian can be stripped with just an adjustable spanner and a pipe grip if you don't own head set spanners.

Getting the pedal off is do-able with steel tube over a spanner for leverage, you might want to let it soak first in WD40/GT85/Plus gas or similar, an electric piant stripper or blow lamp can help with this as well.

 

[Davidc]

It's a good basic bike and looks in reasonable condition. Well worth keeping in working order IMO.

I agree almost completely with Zoiders about what to do. The bike isn't seriously old and as said above parts should be easy to get.

You can drill the lubricating hole Zoiders suggests into the BB locknut if it's a traditional threaded type, and then seal it with silicone stuff. That leaves the shell intact when you replace with a cartridge one.

The other thing worth doing if it's been standing for a long time is to regrease the hub bearings.

Good luck with it.

 

[Zoiders]

I suggested just drilling the shell to avoid having to pull the chain set.

To drill the cups you have to remove the chainset, so you may as well pull the BB entirely.

Grease ports in the shell are common and easily sealed, the cable guides might have a hole drilled that is usable anyway.

 

[citybabe]

I bought a Bianchi at the end of last summer so I just want to tidy the Falcon up and use for wintertime riding. I've cleaned up the chain, the teeth and the jockey wheel. The freewheel was replaced a couple of years ago because it had seized up (and a new chain too).

The Falcon feels really quite rough to ride compared to the Bianchi so all I want to do is try to make it a smoother ride as I possibly can.

Thanks for your replies guys..

 

[MikeMc]

Given that you live in Norwich and have a Bianchi why don't you strip off the gears and freewheel and make this a single speed.

I imagine the Bianchi is lighter and once all the extraneous gears and cable are removed the Falcon will be closer in weight. Some mudguards and you'll be set for a winter bike.

 

[Fattman]

Getting the pedal off is do-able with steel tube over a spanner for leverage, you might want to let it soak first in WD40/GT85/Plus gas or similar, an electric piant stripper or blow lamp can help with this as well.

... just not at the same time

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Shame about the chainset...looks an OK one for the spec/age. Be a pity to throw it away just for corroded pedals whch might be solveable